Design Unscripted

10 Interior Design Tricks That Instantly Elevate Your Home

• Manuella Moreira • Season 1 • Episode 8

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🎙️ 10 Interior Design Tricks That Instantly Elevate Your Home

Some spaces just feel elevated the moment you walk in—and it’s often thanks to the details you don’t even realize are working. In this episode of Design Unscripted, I’m sharing 10 interior design tricks that can instantly transform your home. From layered lighting to statement hardware, subtle scent to tailored drapery—these timeless design moves will help your space feel more intentional, refined, and uniquely you.

Whether you're restyling a room or starting from scratch, these expert-approved tips will guide you in creating a space that doesn’t just look good—it feels personal, polished, and complete.

✨ Mentioned in this episode
► Aura – Signature Candle
► Alchemy – Signature Candle

🕯️ Aura is soft, warm, and quietly comforting.
đź–¤ Alchemy is deeper, layered, and a bit unexpected.
Both are designed to live gently in your space—adding depth without ever overwhelming the room.

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The most unforgettable spaces don't just look beautiful—they leave an impression you can feel. There's a quiet confidence in them, a sense of ease and intention.

Welcome to Design Unscripted. I'm Manuella Moreira, and in today's episode, I'm sharing 10 design secrets that bring that same feeling into your home—layered, thoughtful, and deeply personal.

Let's walk through the details that quietly—but powerfully—transform a home into something exceptional. Whether you're styling a new space or refreshing a familiar one, this episode is all about refining your home with purpose, presence, and beauty. These tricks aren't about trends—they're about timeless elements that work in every space, at every scale.

1. Use Oversized Art or Mirrors
Large-scale art commands attention. It centers the room, introduces color, mood, and adds personality without cluttering the space.

Now, mirrors—especially when oversized or uniquely shaped—bring more than just reflection. They add depth and dimension. When positioned thoughtfully, like across from a window, they bounce natural light around the room and create a feeling of openness.

I often use them in smaller or darker spaces to visually expand the room and give it a bit more air.

2. Elevate Your Lighting Game
Lighting is one of the most transformative tools in design. It's not just about how bright a space is—it's about how it feels.

Light has the power to soften edges, draw attention, create intimacy, or energize a space depending on how it's used. And yet, it's often an afterthought.

The first step is replacing builder-grade ceiling fixtures. Opt for something sculptural—whether it's a statement pendant, a hand-blown glass sconce, or a vintage find. These pieces function like jewelry for the room, adding personality and form even when they're off.

I always recommend a strategy that includes three layers: ambient, task, and accent.

  • Ambient lighting sets the overall tone—overhead fixtures or recessed lighting that fills the space softly.
  • Task lighting is focused and functional. Think table lamps on nightstands, a reading light by the sofa, or a pendant over the island.
  • Accent lighting brings that soft magic. Think picture lights over artwork, sconces that cast a soft glow, or a floor lamp that adds shape in an empty corner.

Layering these creates depth and dimension. I always use dimmers whenever possible. Light should adapt to your day—not just flood the room.

When your lighting is thoughtful, your entire space feels more polished, intentional, and alive.

3. Upgrade Everyday Essentials
Luxury lives in the details. That includes the things we reach for every day—soap dispensers, kitchen tools, tissue boxes.

When those pieces are elevated—whether it's through material, form, or consistency—they signal care and quietly elevate the entire experience of your home.

An example is that plastic soap bottle on your kitchen counter. Replace it with a glass, stone, or ceramic dispenser.

Put your olive oil in a ceramic pourer that looks just as good on the counter as it does in use. I even keep my tamari in a ceramic bottle because I use it often for sushi nights and cooking, and I want that moment to feel just as considered as everything else.

To be clear, none of this is about perfection—it's about choosing beauty for the things that support your daily rituals.

When function meets form, even the smallest moments feel intentional.

4. Design with Scent
Scent is the most emotional layer in a home. It shapes memory, evokes feeling, and tells a story without saying a word. When curated with intention, it becomes part of your home's atmosphere—just as meaningful as the colors, textures, and lighting.

That's exactly why I created two signature scents: Aura and Alchemy.

Aura is soft, warm, and quietly comforting—that familiar presence at the end of the day.
Alchemy leans deeper. It's layered and a bit unexpected.

Both are designed to live gently in the background, adding depth without overwhelming the room.

Because how your home smells is just as important as how it looks—and the right scent doesn't just enhance a room, it anchors it in feeling.

And if you're curious about Aura and Alchemy, I've added the link to the show notes so you can learn more about them.

5. Introduce Statement Hardware
Hardware is the jewelry of the home—small in scale, but full of impact. Cabinet pulls, door handles, even closet knobs carry more visual weight than most people realize.

I love incorporating aged brass, bronze, or sculptural silhouettes to give cabinetry and furniture a more intentional and elevated feel. It's one of the simplest upgrades you can make, but the difference is instantly noticeable.

It's not about being showy—it's about creating a space that feels thoughtful and refined.

6. Add a Pedestal
I love adding a pedestal to display a single, beautiful object—it's one of my favorite styling secrets. A pedestal brings a sense of architecture to a room, even if the space lacks built-in details. This gives a sculpture, or even a vase with fresh flowers, the presence it deserves.

Use it to break up negative space or to turn a forgotten corner into a focal point. Just be sure to choose a pedestal that complements the room without competing with what it's holding.

I tend to favor marble or plaster finishes—they add the perfect balance of texture and quiet sophistication.

7. Add Fresh Flowers or Branches
Flowers are one of my favorite styling elements—and something deeply personal to me. They bring a natural sense of movement and softness that no other material can replicate.

Beyond their beauty, florals introduce a sense of presence and seasonality into a home. They remind you that a space is alive, evolving, and cared for.

Whether it's a grand arrangement or just a few thoughtfully placed stems, flowers instantly make a room feel more intimate, more layered, and more loved. They don't just decorate a space—they bring emotion into it.

8. Invest in Tailored Window Treatments
Nothing finishes a room quite like proper window treatments. They frame the architecture, soften the light, and bring everything together in a way that feels thoughtful and complete.

Think floor-to-ceiling drapes in linen, cotton sateen, or sheers. They instantly create a sense of height and softness. They draw the eye upward while adding beautiful texture and warmth.

Roman shades in subtly textured fabric can be just as impactful—especially in smaller rooms where space is at a premium.

One of my go-to tips: always hang your drapery rods as close to the ceiling as possible. It elongates the walls and makes your windows feel more expansive.

And make sure your drapes just kiss the floor—never puddled, never floating. That subtle break at the hem creates a tailored, elegant finish that feels effortless and refined.

Custom doesn't have to mean complicated or expensive. It just needs to be well-measured, well-placed, and considered. When done right, window treatments don't just dress the room—they elevate it.

9. Highlight One Unexpected Moment
Every truly elevated space needs a moment of surprise—something that stops you just long enough to feel something. It's that single detail that feels a little unexpected, a little bolder than the rest of the room.

Think a lacquered side table in a room full of natural textures. A sculptural light fixture that makes you pause and wonder.

And here's the thing: the “unexpected” doesn't have to mean expensive. It just has to feel deliberate. Thoughtful. And a little brave. This is the design equivalent of a signature detail—quiet, intentional, and unforgettable.

So when you're curating your space, ask yourself: where's the surprise? What's that one detail that no one saw coming—but now, they can't imagine the room without it?

That's where the magic lives.

10. Design for Emotion
At the core of every elevated space is a feeling. Ask yourself: How do I want this room to make me feel? Inspired? Rested? Grounded?

Designing from that place changes everything. Color, materials, layout—they all serve that emotion. That's when a home becomes more than beautiful—it becomes meaningful.

When you design from that place, your choices shift. You stop decorating for appearance and start creating for experience. Materials become more tactile. Lighting more thoughtful. Flow more intuitive. The space evolves into something that quietly supports your everyday experience.

That's when design moves beyond aesthetics and becomes something lasting. That's what truly elevates a home.

And if you're not sure where to start—but you're ready to take your home from almost there to absolutely you—send me a message and let's work together.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a friend. And if you haven't yet, please leave a quick review. It means the world to me. And be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more thoughtful and elevated design content.

Whether you're listening or watching—thank you so much for being here. See you next time.